Lester is open to talks with Red Sox

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FORT MYERS, Fla. — Jon Lester said Monday the Red Sox have not yet opened negotiations on a contract extension with his agents. But he hopes that day is coming.

“We haven’t sat down. I think there’s going to be a time and a place for that,” Lester said. “But that’s not really something I’m concerned about right now. I need to worry about getting for the season physically.”

“If it’s something we do get done in spring training, great If it’s not, I think you have to take everything as it comes,” he said. “If that involves going through the season still talking or getting it done early, you have to play it by ear.”

Lester said in January that he wanted to stay with the Red Sox and was willing to sign for less than he could get on the free-agent market. That hasn’t changed.

“I’m not going to go back on what I said,” Lester said. “I said what I said from the heart and I mean it. We’ll see where it goes from there. We’ve still got a long way to go. It’s going to be a tough process.”

Agents Sam and Seth Levinson were instructed by Lester not to call him unless there was something to report.